The student evaluated their music magazine project against magazine codes and conventions. They analyzed several elements of their magazine, including the front cover, central image, contents page, double page article, and house style. They discussed maintaining consistent themes, colors and fonts throughout the magazine to establish a coherent house style. The student also considered how their magazine represents a target audience interested in dance music and culture.

1. Evaluation

2. How does my magazine fit into the codes
and conventions of magazines?
The barcode is another essential Comparison with the
Front Cover part of magazines. I included a real thing:
barcode to make the magazine more
realistic; I created the barcode on
Photoshop and I added number on
the bottom; most magazines have
numbers on the barcode.
Also, the central image is the most
dominant feature on the front cover
and is a code and convention of
magazines, the pose and effects I
used show the superiority and
powerful presence of the model; the
colours-ice blue to represent cool
sophistication - reflects on the
dance feel that is being sold to the
target audience (followers and
aspirers would want to be like her).
Moreover, the cover lines are
another code and convention of
magazines, I used an exciting
register and direct mode of address
with words like ‘exclusive’, ‘preview’
and ‘win’ to attract and appeal to
What is more is the masthead is another
different audiences; the colour also
essential part of magazines, I used a big
links into the dance culture and the
bold masthead with attractive colours,
dance themes that are implied
similarly, the magazine on the right uses a
throughout the magazine
large masthead to grab the audiences
attention.

3. Also on my front cover I included the issue
number to help the audience keep up with the
different issues and to encourage them to buy
the next issue and become a loyal readership.
Moreover, I included the issue number because
it is one of the codes and conventions of
magazines; I looked back at my magazine
annotations in my preliminary task to help me
follow and develop my magazine.
This is one of the things a magazine reader
expects to see on the cover of a magazine;
by providing this it will help in the sales of the
magazine and will increase my profit.
I also used a bottom strip to advertise various things to my audience, such as,
‘Competitions’; this helps in the sales of the magazine, (people would want to buy
the magazine so they could enter the competition and win various things). It has the
same effect as ticker tape headlines on a TV program and entices the audience into
the product

4. Front Cover Central Image
For the front cover I added effects to the image on
Adobe Photoshop, I did this because I wanted the
image to appeal to and grab the audiences attention;
customers in a shop would have their attention on the
bright swirl around the model. It represents energy,
electricity and vibrancy-things they would want to be
part of.
Moreover, I tried to keep the colour palette similar to the
masthead and text that is on the front cover, because I
wanted the same house style and themes to run through
the magazine; another code and convention of
magazines is to have the same colour palette and
themes running through out it (to make every part of the
magazine feel as one).
As you can see on this real music magazine, the colours and
feel to the image links into the text and the masthead; the
golden outfit and hair the model has is similar to the text and
dark eye shadow is similar to the mastheads colour.
Furthermore, in the same way as my magazine I wanted the
picture to feel part of the magazine and not to look different; in
a real magazine every page of the magazine fits into the
house style and audiences would know that the front cover is
part of the magazine.

5. Contents Page
I have used a masthead on the contents
page which is a code and convention of
magazines. It made the masthead with the
same colours, font and ‘circle splat’ as the
front covers masthead; it was important
that I kept a house style and the same
themes running throughout the magazine.
Also I used a bottom strip in the contents
page to keep the magazine reader busy
and to encourage them to read on. I used
the same colours and fonts as the front
cover to keep the same house style and
same themes.
Moreover, I used feature articles (another
code and convention of magazines) to
show the reader what is in inside the
magazine and what they will be reading
about; in the same way, I kept the same
colours, fonts and themes as the front
cover.

6. For the contents page I
used two images to help
advertise the magazine;
the images give an insight
into the magazine and it
targets both genders,
therefore, widening my
target audience and
appealing to a wider
audience.
With both the images I
tried to give the same feel
and vibes as I have given
in the front cover image;
the use of blues and
purples link into the genre
of music and give a
positive feel which is vital
in attracting a target
audience. It feels full of
energy and electric techno
fun.

7. Double Page Article
The Heading is for hooking the audience into the
magazine and luring them into reading the text on the
two pages. This will help me interest the audience into
buying the magazine and make them believe that
cannot see or read this elsewhere.

8. I used the image on the double page
article to accompany the text and to link
into the text.
I used a sophisticated pose and model
to give positive connotations to the
audience; a positive feel to attract and
appeal to the audience.
Moreover, on Photoshop I designed a
logo to go with the ‘Tour Dates’; I used
an effective logo with similar colours
that I have already applied to the
magazine to keep the same house
style, themes and feel to the magazine.
What is more, is that I carried on the
bottom strip from the front cover and
contents pages to keep the same look
and house style to the magazine; I don’t
want the audience to feel as if the
double page spread is not part of this
dance magazine

9. What difficulties did you face while you was
constructing your magazine?
While I was constructing my magazine I faced several
different issues and problems. One of the main
problems was saving my magazine; sometimes it
wouldn’t save in the right format and I would have to 1st
make several copies of the file and save it to my
memory stick.
edit
Another difficulty was when I was editing my images,
it was very time consuming and it took up most of my
constructing time; getting the right colours and effects
were vital in appealing to a target audience (editing 2nd
images to a high standard and making them look like
real magazine images). Maintaining a consistent
edit
house style was challenging but essential.
Moreover, another problem was when I was trying to
take pictures from Adobe Photoshop and apply them
to my magazine on Adobe In Design; I had to save it
for ‘web and devices’ on the PNG format and then
‘place’ it onto my magazine file.

10. Another problem with editing was
when I was trying to make my
turntable logo.
I started off with a design that didn’t
go with the magazine house style
and it stood out too much from the
background and did not integrate
with the overall feel of the magazine.
I started from scratch and began to
redesign my logo, I added several
different blending options; I added a
blue outer glow, inner glow of black
and a gradient on the brush stroke
design.
Editing images, logos and text took
up most of my constructing time, I
now know how hard it is to produce a
professional and effective magazine.

11. How does your music magazine represent a
particular social group?
My magazine represents the targeted audience of young people
into the dance scene by the application of various codes and
conventions and themes that are present within my magazine, (i.e.
the colour, images, fonts)
Firstly, the colours I have used for the magazine targets the
young/teenage audience. The colours I have used are colours like:
blue, purples and greys. I have chosen these specific colours to
target the audience associated with the dance culture and the
teenage audience. For example the colours blue and purple have
positive connotations of happiness, passion and coolness.
Moreover, the colour purple is a mix of both female and male
energies; this targets both genders and helps widen my target
audience. These colours represent the targeted social group
associated with the dance culture; being into dance music and the
dance lifestyle, the audience would definitely like cool and bright
colour, (in a dance club you wouldn’t see dark and dull colours,
you would see bright purples, blues and greens); I know this
because of my music tribes research. Also the hedonists and
aspirers would be drawn by the promise of fun and dance!

12. Secondly the fonts link into the genre and targeted audience. I chose
my fonts which relate and represent the dance genre.
If I had used fonts that were unclear and unreadable it would have had
a negative impact on the sales of the magazine. It is essential that the
designer and editor of a magazine use the appropriate fonts to illustrate
their product. What is more, is that the fonts I have used relates to the
dance genre as the colours and design of the font is something that the
audience would instantly recognise as associated with the high energy,
vibrant dance genre.

13. In a magazine it is important that the images and costumes give the right
messages and vibes to the targeted audience.
In my images I constructed a mise en scene using clothing and poses that
relate to the dance genre. Moreover, the clothing and poses are part of the
dance culture; I knew this from when I researched different music tribes and
wanted to insure that this was apparent on my magazine
The images reinforce the messages of dancing, carefree, hedonistic
partying and loud music, which are all integral elements associated with the
dance culture
In this image I tried to construct a
sophisticated feel about dance and at
the same time the colours i used give
the partying and cool messages that
link the image into the dance culture;
the clothing is appropriate to the genre
and it has the typical colours that a
clubber would wear. My model appears
cool and relaxed and is a good example
of the type of person who people would
aspire to be like.

14. House Style
It is a code and convention of magazines to have the same house style,
colour palettes and themes running throughout a magazine.
Furthermore, It is vital that a a contents page on a magazine has a
relationship with the front cover; if they were different the audience
would feel as if the contents doesn’t belong in the magazine.
This magazine has managed to maintain a
house style and the same themes running
throughout the magazine; the double page
spread contains similar themes and styles to the
contents page and front cover.

15. In my magazine I think that I kept the same colours and themes running throughout it,
therefore, I feel that I have established a house style successfully
An example of keeping the same themes and colours, is in my mastheads. I have used the
same fonts, gradient colours and effects; they both look like they’re from the same magazine
(this is the look and feel that I wanted the mastheads to have).
Moreover, I think that I have definitely maintained a house style and kept to the same
colours of blue, purples and greys.

16. Front Cover
Contents
Double Page Article
In the same way, I have kept the same styles, colours and fonts on the bottom strips on all
pages of the magazine.
This reinforces how I have kept a house style and I have used similar colours, fonts and
themes in my magazine.

17. What kind of magazine institution would
sell and distribute your magazine?
In my Opinion the magazine institution that would distribute my magazine is the EMAP
magazine institution.
Emap, is a British media company that was founded in London in 1947. Emap, stands for
East Midland Allied Press.
Emap specialises in magazine publishing, it most successful magazine was ‘Smash Hits’
which was a pop magazine. Moreover, this institution distributes a magazine called ‘Mixmag’
that is a Dance magazine. Mixmag is a British dance music and clubbing magazine. It styles
itself as "the world's biggest selling dance music magazine."
This magazine is one the most successful dance magazines around and it is similar my
magazine; it contains themes of dance, colours of dance, fonts that relate to the genre and
images that contain elements of dance.
Moreover, I think that this institution should take on my magazine alongside Mixmag, my
magazine is just as professional and unique as Mixmag.

18. Firstly, the genre is the same and Mixmag is one of the only dance magazines
around, therefore, I think that EMAP should take on my magazine because it will
bring EMAP profit and by appealing and successfully drawing the audiences
attention the sales should rise; giving EMAP a good reputation.

19. Looking back at you Preliminary task, what have
you learnt in progression of you full project?
I think I have definitely made a progression from my first magazine (Preliminary
task: Produce a school magazine) and I have developed my IT skills in
order to produce an effective Music Magazine. The Preliminary task was a
starting point to get used to using the technology and it differs to the my
main task of creating a music magazine.
After I had produced my school magazine, I had acquired a great amount of
skill and knowledge about the technology involved with constructing the
magazine.
There are not many factors that are similar between both magazines; I have
made a music magazine that uses different themes, colours and use of
imagery.
School Magazine Links:
Front Cover Link
Contents Link:

20. Conclusion
Overall, throughout the construction of my magazines
(School and Music Magazine) and the research work I
have done about both the magazines and music industry, I
have acquired a great amount of skill which have I put to
good use and used the technologies and software
effectively. To add to this, I have come to understand a
great deal about tribes, music industries, magazine
institutions and conventions and how these factors have
such an impact upon the production, sales, genre and
target audience of different magazines.
 Made By Hassan Yasin